So, I took my girl to the vet for the first time today for her second round of shots (first round was done with the breeder). She was fine when she was getting her shots, wanted to love on the vet tech, but she got a little anxious when I had to hold her to let him look in her ears and check her teeth. I mess with her mouth quite a bit...mainly because she always seems to have something she's not supposed to, so she's pretty used to having fingers in her mouth and I massage her gums when I think her teeth are bothering her...she, like every other shepherd pup is very mouthy in play. When the vet went to reach for her mouth, she snipped at him...no growl, no bark, no frustration...it was just like she does in play. He wasn't going to examine her teeth after that. He said I needed to get a handle on that and backed off. She's 12 weeks old!! 😒 Every member of my fam takes their dogs there and his prices are very reasonable for our area, considering he's one of two vets within 40 miles. Anyone else have issues with vets being freaked out their GSDs? I'm wondering if he would have reacted the same way if she would have been a pit...

LOL...tell him to stop being a sissy and if he's scared of puppies, maybe he should stick with guppies.

No issues with my GSD but did with our youngest boxer who growled at the vet after the tech came in, grabbed the leash out of my hand without saying a word and DRAGGED my dog across the room with a prong collar on. So a muzzle went on and the tech did not come back into the room...probably for her own safety...from me....

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~The strength of one's opinion should not exceed their knowledge on the matter~

When Hondo was about 6 months old, my vet went to check his teeth. He kept moving his head away from her. It was obvious he wasn't cool with her looking into his mouth. The vet allowed me to pull his gums back (etc.) so she could examine him. This clued me into the fact that I wasn't working with him well enough to allow a stranger to look into his mouth. I thought of it as a training opportunity.

I now teach all my dogs, "let me see!" I pull back their gums, open their mouth and look down their throat. All the while they have to remain stock still. Then they get a treat. Now when we go to the vet, I'll say, "Let me see!" and they allow the vet to examine them. With Hondo, I'll handle his mouth while the vet continues the exam. In fact, I practice NILIF and 'Let me see' is one of our easy treat earners. Sometimes I'll just lift the gums and give a treat.

My Lacy is a crack puppy. At his six month check up, the vet was attempting to examine him by manipulating his body. The Lacy kept mouthing him, attempting to engage in play. The vet commented that I need to get a better handle on the pup. Honestly, I was shocked and pleased that my Lacy wasn't attempting to climb up the vet's body and perch on his head. So I just said we are working on it and let it go. I know my dog. I didn't hold it against the vet, he didn't know my dog. His behavior at the time WAS a big leap in the right direction.

Point is, don't worry about what other people think of your pup. Even if it is your vet. His job is to keep your dog healthy, not provide OB classes.

A little puppy nipping at a hand in their mouth? I've never had a puppy who didn't mouth and play, it's normal.

a DOG should let someone under a non-playful circumstance check their mouth without biting, a puppy on the other hand - everything is play for them. If you can't handle the landshark phase - aptly named - don't get a puppy.

LOL...tell him to stop being a sissy and if he's scared of puppies, maybe he should stick with guppies.

No issues with my GSD but did with our youngest boxer who growled at the vet after the tech came in, grabbed the leash out of my hand without saying a word and DRAGGED my dog across the room with a prong collar on. So a muzzle went on and the tech did not come back into the room...probably for her own safety...from me....

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He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion. - Unknown

Nonetheless...still was nice to have a chuckle...beats the heck out of...

__________________
He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion. - Unknown

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